People let friends borrow their cars all the time. Unfortunately, this friendly gesture can have liability implications in a car accident. Since car insurance in North Carolina covers specific vehicles, the auto insurance of the vehicle owner will likely have liability if someone borrowed the car and caused an accident. Accident victims may file a claim against the car owner’s insurance. You may pay higher auto insurance premiums in the future because the accident is on your insurance record. It’s best not to let friends borrow your car.
Understanding Vehicle Owner Liability in North Carolina
Vehicle owners are typically responsible for any injuries that an authorized user causes.
Whether your auto insurance will pay if a friend causes an accident while driving your car depends on whether you permitted them to use your vehicle. In North Carolina, most auto insurance policies cover drivers you’ve listed on your policy and drivers you’ve allowed to operate your car. This is referred to as permitted use.
On the other hand, if you are injured in a collision and the at-fault driver was driving a borrowed car, you may have a claim against the vehicle owner’s auto insurance. It’s a good idea to have an experienced personal injury lawyer review the details of the auto accident and explain your rights if you have been injured in a collision.
North Carolina Laws on Negligent Entrustment
If you have been injured in a crash caused by a driver in a borrowed car, it’s essential to review the record of the at-fault driver. Our attorneys will do that as part of our investigation of the accident. Did the at-fault driver have a record of multiple traffic offenses or DUI convictions? Perhaps, the vehicle owner should never have lent the car to the bad driver in the first place. As an accident victim, you may have grounds to claim that the car owner should have foreseen the risk of lending the vehicle to a dangerous driver.
You may have a right to demand financial compensation from the vehicle owner and their insurance for negligently entrusting their vehicle to the dangerous driver. A vehicle owner may be held financially liable if they willingly lent their vehicle to someone who they should have had reason to believe might cause harm.
If you have been injured by a driver in a borrowed car, a knowledgeable car accident attorney at Hardison & Cochran can help you evaluate whether you are entitled to hold the vehicle owner financially liable for the harm you suffered.
Insurance Coverage When a Driver is Driving a Borrowed Car
Generally speaking, car insurance in North Carolina follows the specific vehicle, not the driver. So, if you were injured in a crash caused by someone driving a borrowed car, you could file a claim against the vehicle owner’s auto accident liability policy. If the driver was driving the car without permission, the vehicle owner’s insurance company is likely to dispute its liability for the accident.
You also may file a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance, if the driver has auto insurance. Driving without insurance is against the law in North Carolina.
Insurance companies are more likely to dispute financial responsibility in a borrowed car accident. You should seek legal guidance if you have been injured in a crash and the at-fault driver was using a borrowed car.
Steps to Take If a Driver in a Borrowed Car Injured You in Raleigh, NC
If you are injured in a car accident, you need to take certain specific steps. First, get the other driver’s insurance and driver’s license information. If you learn the other driver was driving a borrowed car, you should get the owner’s name and car insurance information. What happens next depends on whether the person who borrowed the vehicle had permission to use it.
You may file a claim with the vehicle owner’s insurance company if the driver had permission to use the car. Insurance companies may accept a car accident claim if someone was driving the car with the owner’s permission. If the driver did not have permission, then the insurance company is more likely to deny or dispute the claim.
You should contact an attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can assess the facts of the case and help you pursue just compensation if you have a case. Without an attorney, you will be at the mercy of the insurance companies for your medical expenses and other financial losses.
Contact Hardison & Cochran for Legal Help
Car accidents with borrowed vehicles are more complicated to resolve without an experienced attorney. Hardison & Cochran has been helping injured people in Raleigh and eastern North Carolina for more than 40 years. Our attorneys have the skills and experience to take your car accident case. The personal injury law firm has recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients, including several multi-million settlements for car accidents. Our team provides compassionate support and effective legal representation. Don’t take it from us. Here’s what one of our satisfied clients had to say:
“My interaction with Hardison & Cochran was superb. They kept me fully informed about my case and advised me on what to expect and everything went accordingly. I especially was elated with the client/attorney confidentiality and relationship. Hardison & Cochran was at my disposal for my every need and question! Thumbs up!” – Toney H.
We have grown from a single office to a multi-office law firm that operates in locations across the state. We remain committed to our mission of helping everyday North Carolinians with their legal difficulties. Contact us online or call today for a free case consultation with a car accident attorney in Raleigh, NC.
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